Circumstances of a Fallen Lord

Chapter 5

     Luisen spread the map to confirm his surroundings. The entrance to the forest lay a short distance from the north gate of the castle. He ran a finger down the road that stretched from that point.

Here, the left path leads to Dubless?

Yes, thats correct.

Luisen pointed to some foothills directly opposite Dubless, to the right side of the forest.

And this way lies Carltons barracks?

Yes, thats right. Thats the front gate of the battle. Its opposite the way were going. We can escape safely without being involved in the fighting.

So you say its on the right

No, no, the left side. We have to go towards the left, right?

Ruger looked at Luisen with pitiful eyes, insisting that he was confused.

Does he think Im a fool?!

Tears threatened to fall, but he stayed quiet. There was something more important than that right now. Its better for Ruger to have this misconception now.

Lets go. Were leaving.

Yes! Youve made a wise choice! Excellent decision! As expected of my duke, so bold and decisive!

Rugers expression lightened. He gleefully handed Luisen a black robe and offered his useless flattery. Luisen frowned. In the past, he had enjoyed such flattery, but now he felt bad.

What is this insincere brown-nosing? He couldnt believe he used to be pacified with such obvious compliments.

He stopped Rugers flattery while speaking ill of his past self.

 Stop it, we need to get going.

Luisen tightly rolled up the map.

Uh? I can hold the map. Ruger offered.

Its fine. Ill take the lead in the woods. Just follow me.

Ruger seemed puzzledit was natural for the servant to lead with the map and for the master to follow. However, he thought nothing more of it Luisen was originally a capricious man, and Ruger thought his master was too transparent to have any schemes. He never imagined there would be a plan other than to go to Dubless.

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Dubless will be safe. Carlton wont be able to follow us there!

Ruger led the way with laughter and joy. Even if Luisen were to take the lead in the forest, Ruger had to guide them to the place where the horses and money were hidden.

Looking at his light-hearted back, Luisen thought to himself, Im sorry to lie to you, Ruger. But, this time you wont die because of me. This is for the best.

Of course, Luisen had no intent of running to Dubless. Why would he run when that was what he regretted in the first place? He was not very smart, but he wasnt foolish enough to step onto an obviously hellish path.

****

As soon as they slipped out of the fortress door, the entrance to the forest stretched out before them. In the night, the forest seemed like a huge monster. An inky darkness of unimaginable depth enveloped it wholly. From the back, the sounds of the battle could be heard; from the front, crickets chirped. In the midst of all of that, a strange silence weighed upon Luisens shoulders.

It was common knowledge that the forest at night was dangerous. And, apart from common sense, Luisen was afraid of the forest. He had entered the woods many times to forage for food after getting chased out of the cities.

Every visit was a crisis of death. How fierce the wild animals wereand how numerous the monsters were The traps set up to hunt them were also incredibly dangerous. He almost lost his ankle once when he got caught in one of those traps. He even ate toadstools while blind with hunger.

It was almost laudable that he was even still alive.

Ever since he was young, he was told to be careful of his weak body, but he may have actually been unexpectedly tough.

Eugh Luisen tried to relax with trivial musings, but it didnt work. The endless darkness itself was an entity that overwhelmed people.

It feels like my death knight will soon arrive

According to the legends, deep in the forest where moonlight couldnt penetrate, a solitary headless knight roamed. He was once the most honorable knight, but he was corrupted and became depraved. He betrayed his master and violated the sacred knights vow. He was said to have been sentenced to death, hung by his neck on the walls of the castle and dumped deep in the woods. Now, he was said to reap the souls of the guilty who wandered into the forest.

During his wandering and delusional days, whenever Luisen attempted to find some peace in the forest, he would hear the thundering sounds of horses hooves. The death knight would appear at the corners of his eyes, from the darknessan envoy from heaven to punish him.

He was not allowed to rest.

    They say if you were caught, your body would be torn apart and scattered in the fields and meadows and your soul would be locked away and tormented forever. Like an insidious shadow, the knight sat in the darkness and whispered to Luisen, Run away, run far far away.

Luisens mouth was dry with fear. Though he no longer clearly saw those delusions, he still felt that someone was watching him, hidden. The wind caressing his neck was cold like a blade.

No, no no. Theres no way that the knight of legend exists in this world.

Of course, the knight of death was just a fictional being. The knight who chased Luisen persistently was just one of the many delusions Luisens consciousness had created. After meeting the saint and facing his own mistakes, the knight seemed to have disappeared.

Looking back, Luisen only saw Rugers blank face. There were only two of them, him and Ruger

Thats right. Its just an illusion.

Luisen, after much internal struggle, shook off his fear and stepped into the woods.

*****

Luisen and Ruger walked silently. As they went, the road became narrower and the overgrowth of plant life climbed up to their knees. The old, long-standing trees were thick and dense, and darkness filled the gaps between the trunks. The two were hidden from the softly shining moonlight by their dense branches.

Ah, I think theres something in front of me.

Luisen walked forward step by step, even as he felt like he was about to cry. The lamp he was holding was enough to see the immediate area around his feet, but the flame was too small and weak to conquer the forest at night. A sudden wind shook the foliage. Luisen hunched his shoulders in terror.

"

"

UghIm scared to death.

Luisen was still making steady headway, but what was scary was undeniably. He glanced at Rugerhe was silently following his master without a word. It would have been a lot less terrifying if he was spouting his usual inane conversations.

My duke.

Huh? U-uh, yeah?

Are you sure were on the right track?

Yeah, were where were supposed to be.

Luisen evaded Rugers true question. It wasnt as if his aide was originally from Anies anyway. He was born and raised in the capital until he followed Luisen here; how would he know the surrounding geography well?

However, Ruger suddenly stopped.

Why is my lord lying?

At his unexpected words, Luisen felt like his heart was about to fall through his stomach. Quick-witted Jerk!! He was always clumsy when Luisen needed him but sharp at times like this! Ruger looked at Luisen with a frigid expressionenough to make Luisen wonder if this was the same servant who had simpered and begged him to run away.

Youre going the opposite way.

N-no, Im not? Luisen stuttered. Damn it. He lamented his atrocious acting skills and non-existent wit.

As expected, Ruger said. I thought something was weird. My cowardly duke choosing to lead the way with a map and a lamp? The road was so bumpy, and yet you didnt get annoyed with me once? My lord definitely had another plan.

Thats

Why are we headed towards Carltons barracks? Do you want to die?

Were not dying! Why would I die?

Then what are you doing? Are you going to surrender and beg for your life?

Luisens silence affirmed all that was said.

Are you serious? My lord, have you gone crazy? Ruger couldnt believe what he heard.

Yeah I guess I seem crazy. Itll look as if Im putting my own head in the lions mouth.

Crazy. Absolutely mad. No wonder he was so obedient about leaving. Damn.

Im sorry I deceived youbut dont worry. I have an idea.

My duke thought of something? Youve lived without thinking so far!

Thats a bit too much.

"

"

It was a disrespectful remark, but Luisen couldnt refute it. Ruger was someone who had been by his side all throughout his good-for-nothing trash days. Furthermore, Ruger was someone who died while helping Luisen escape He was not in a position to yell at Ruger.

Its fine. Its my fault for letting my lord lead. Lets at least turn back now.

No, I have to meet Carlton. If you want to go to Dubless, Ill give you the map. You can go on your own.

I cant do that! How could I abandon my duke for safety, alone? You must go with me.

You can go alone.

Rugers loyalty shined through, but Luisens heart was firm.

I will force my lord to come with me, if it comes down to it. Ruger inched closer, holding a fist. He was prepared to use physical force if his master wouldnt listen.

Hey! This is mutiny! Luisen stepped back.

It cant be helped. If I dont take you back to Dubless territory, Ill die anyway.

Get a hold of yourself! Dont be too scared Just trust me?

Id rather believe in our fuzzy 1 than in you, my duke!

Hey! Fuzzy is my dog! Thats too much, really. Were you really such a brash person?

It seemed persuasion was impossible. Luisen made a split-second decision, throwing the map and lamp into Rugers arms. When Ruger faltered at the new weight, Luisen turned and ran.

Im sorry!

TN: thanks for joining me for these two chapters! Next up: The ML, finally O.O

1. Literal translation: Bokshil furrybut I figure furry means something different in the English language haha